.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;}
With all of the talk about Iowa’s budget problems, it’s important to recognize that we’re in a relatively strong position compared with other states.

In his latest newsletter, Carroll banker Mike Nelson points out that Iowa received the second-best rating in a recent fiscal report by the Pew Center on the States.

The organization evaluated states in six categories and assigned an overall numeric ranking. California got the biggest number (meaning the worst score) with a 30. Arizona scored a 28.

At the more desirable end of the scale, Wyoming had the best showing with its 6 rating, and Iowa tied with Nebraska for second place at 7.

The data are slightly dated, in a year when some problems have worsened. But here’s a glimpse at the breakdown by categories.

Iowa’s “change in revenue” from the first quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009 was a positive 3.6 percent. California’s was a negative 16.2 percent.

Our gap between spending and revenues for fiscal year 2010, as of July, was 13.2 percent. The situation has deteriorated since then, of course, so our grade should be lowered accordingly. But we’re guessing just about every state’s budget picture has gotten worse since July.

The increase in Iowa’s unemployment rate from the second quarter of 2008 to the second quarter of ’09 was 1.7 percentage points. California’s increase was 4.6 points.

Our foreclosure rate in the first quarter of this year was 0.69 percent, compared with 3.12 percent in Nevada and 2.72 percent in Florida.

The survey notes that Iowa is one of 33 states that do not require a supermajority in the legislature to raise taxes or pass budget bills.

Finally, the Pew Center assigns a “money grade” to each state, based on how it manages money, people, information and infrastructure. Iowa received a B+. Four states were given an A-, and only Utah got an A.

Does that help a bit?